In Wine Terms Explained, we look at some of the really odd wine terms out there and explore what they actually mean. There are so many ways to describe wine – some make sense and some are just plain odd. By figuring out what they mean, we can learn more about wine and get back to enjoying it! This week we’re looking into a rather odd term and unpacking the question: what is a chewy wine?
Chewy doesn’t seem like the sort of thing you’d find in a wine. It makes me think of some sort of candy or a dog toy. But what use does it have in a liquid like wine, and what on earth does it mean? So let’s dive into what a chewy wine is, and where you’ll find it.
What is a chewy wine?
Chewy is something you will feel in wine. It is a fleshy, thick texture that makes you feel like you need to chew the wine before swallowing it. Have you ever experienced this? Sometimes I find myself almost making a chewing motion while sipping on some wines – and this is what this term means!
Chewy refers to a wines texture and is usually created in combination with its flavour. Wines that can be described as Chewy are normally full-bodied with big and bold flavours, and lots of tannins. These wines coat your mouth when you drink them and tend to make your mouth feel very dry. This makes you want to chew, and so you get the texture Chewy.
These wines are full-bodied, meaning they usually have higher alcohol content. They also tend to be riper (creating higher alcohol) and have a high concentration of fruit. Therefore you’ll be more likely to find a chewy wine from a warmer climate. However, grape variety can impact this too – think of a Shiraz versus a Pinot Noir where a Pinot will tend to have lower tannins and be lighter-bodied than a Shiraz. This is because some grapes are more likely to have higher tannins from their structure eg. thicker skins.
Is a chewy wine good?
Much like most things in wine, whether a chewy wine is good comes down to personal preference. Sometimes Chewy can be a good thing and some may prefer wine with bold tannins and a full-body. Especially in young wines, this can be a good thing as it means the wine will age well. However, in excess chewy wines can be drying and harsh.
Generally, it is used as a positive descriptor letting you know that wine has prominent tannins that don’t overwhelm. Tannins come in a variety of styles and as long as they don’t overwhelm the palate they can be silky, velvety, lush or supple. These tannins must be balanced with the other elements of the wine. Without being balanced by fruit, body and acidity, they might become too much.
If you aren’t a fan, you’d be best to stick to those with a lighter body. Age can also soften tannins, meaning that a wine that is young might be quite chewy, but over time it will soften.
In summary
A wine that is chewy will tend to be bold, full-bodied and highly tannic. It will make your mouth dry up, but when these tannins are balanced with other components in the wine, they’ll produce something truly delicious. Whether you like it or not comes purely down to personal preference! So next time you hear someone describe a wine as Chewy, you’ll know exactly what the wine is!